Utilisation of static circuit breakers in loop distribution systems for reliability improvement

Nowadays, electric utility companies are expected to provide their customers with a level of quality and reliability higher than that in the past. To improve service on medium voltage (MV) and low voltage (LV) distribution networks, the electric utilities ought to employ new electronic and information technologies, which are quite widespread in industrial plants but not used as much in electric utilities due to the high ratio between costs and benefits. In this work, an optimised management of looped distribution system with solid-state current limiting circuit breakers and distribution automation control is studied, emphasising the possibility of increasing the reliability of the system. First an innovative management of the looped distribution system is proposed; then a comparison in terms of reliability and customer interruption costs among different system configurations with traditional and innovative devices is carried on. In conclusion, the paper highlights the opportunity of accounting for customer marginal benefits as a factor for effective power system planning, design and operation, especially when innovative technologies are adopted.